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I’m
the best, I’m the best, says Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is
now trying to coerce BJP MPs and MLAs into organising a lavish public
felicitation for him in their respective constituencies to "celebrate"
his being polled "the best Chief Minister" in India.
A number of party MPs are shocked at Mr.
Modi’s audacity at a time when the Gujarat situation is far from normal.
A poll survey conducted by a national magazine showed Mr. Modi as the
second-best Chief Minister.
Mr. Modi, however has been parading himself
as the best Chief Minister and saying at public gatherings that he is
indebted to the people of Gujarat for this "prestigious honour." Last
week, in Banaskantha, he told a public meeting how "five crore people
of Gujarat have voted me the best Chief Minister of the country but the
jealous Congress is trying to malign me."
"Chief Minister Modi wants to be publicly
felicitated at all district headquarters, but many MPs and MLAs are apparently
not in the mood to do so. These days things have been taking unexpected
turns. MPs and MLAs are involved in serious infighting in several constituencies
and a number of MLAs are against Mr. Modi for selling Hindutva in this
crude manner.
Prime Minister Vajpayee’s criticism of his
remarks against Lyngdoh have given these MLAs some courage to protest
against publicly honouring Mr. Modi. The reasons could be different but
everyone wants to maintain a safe distance till the polls are announced,"
a senior BJP office-bearer said. He added that Mr. Modi, who is steadily
losing support in the party, wants every MP and MLA to organise this function
for him so that instead of a rally, this function becomes a party event
and he can be felicitated.
He added that Mr. Modi has instructed state
party president Rajendrasinh Rana to ensure that this message is passed
on to every MP and MLA. The exercise has already started but the support
elicited is minuscule, this office-bearer emphasised.
Though state party president Rajendrasinh
Rana admitted that a felicitation programme is required, he denied that
any MLA or MP is being coerced. "It is a fact that the public has voted
him the best Chief Minister. We have to go back to the public to thank
them. There is no question of forcing anyone. In fact, we had organised
a function on Monday where MPs and MLAs were to be present but had to
cancel it at the last moment since it coincided with our election campaign
meeting." He denied that some MPs and MLAs were unwilling to felicitate
Mr. Modi.
Sources claimed that most of the MPs and
MLAs in Saurashtra and Central Gujarat are wary of publicly felicitating
Mr. Modi.
Gujarat Congress president said with sarcasm
that Mr. Modi should also be felicitated for increasing the unemployment
ratio in Gujarat, for messing up Gujarat’s economy, for the shortage of
electricity to farmers and for shattering Gujarat’s gaurav."
Mr. Vaghela said that it is really unfortunate
that BJP MPs and MLAs are being forced to organise special felicitation
programmes for Mr. Modi, whose is responsible for bloodshed and manslaughter
in Gujarat.
Stressing that the survey was managed, Mr.
Vaghela said Mr. Modi lacks management skills and even if things are managed,
they have to be managed well. "He can’t even do that," he added.
Mr. Vaghela said is it not funny that Mr.
Modi has not been around for even 10 months. Four months after his taking
over, Godhra and post-Godhra took place.
He said Mr. Modi revels in saying that he
represents the five crore people of Gujarat. The survey which he managed
to manipulate was as such conducted only among 17,776 voters in 98 different
constituencies of India. "Let the five crore people of Gujarat decide
on Modi and let not manipulated Modi-managed surveys do the talking,"
Mr. Vaghela said.
Republished from
The Asian Age
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